For today, links to seven reports: from the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, the Moscow Times, National Public Radio, Kyiv Post, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 12-14-25 and up or down for SYRIA, GAZA, MEDIA and COVID ETC..) — MCM

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Ukraine hails ‘real progress’ toward peace after talks with U.S. envoys in Berlin, by Martin Fornusek and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Kyiv and Washington made “real progress” toward peace in Ukraine during two-day talks in Berlin, top security official and negotiator Rustem Umerov said today. READ MORE . . .

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Latest round of talks between Ukraine, U.S. conclude as Trump seeks swift peace, by Stefanie Dazio | AP  BERLIN — The latest round of talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. envoys ended Monday as they and European allies seek an end to Russia’s nearly four-year war. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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Russia’s Central Bank seeks $230bln from Euroclear over frozen assets. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s Central Bank has filed a lawsuit seeking 18.2 trillion rubles ($229 billion) in damages from Europe’s largest securities depository Euroclear, the Interfax news agency reported today. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian president meets with U.S. envoys in Berlin, continuing peace talks. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and A Martínez | NPR  Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting with Trump administration negotiators in Berlin today in continued talks on how to end war between Russia and Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to five reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, and ABC News, and to an article of commentary from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for MEDIA 12-13-25 entry, or up or down for SYRIA, GAZA, UKRAINE and COVID ETC..) — MCM

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Entertainment industry remembers Rob Reiner’s six-decade career in TV and film. Reported by Mandalit del Barco and Steve Inskeep | NPR  Rob Reiner’s career as an actor and director spanned six decades. The entertainment industry is honoring his legacy and mourning the reported deaths of Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for later, mid-morning, report from AP.

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FROM DEC. 14  From asbestos to soap to paper, Hollywood has used many tricks to let it (fake) snow over the years. Reported by Danny Hensel | NPR  Many beloved holiday movies share this one special effect: fake snow. We look at the history of fake snow and the technology behind crafting it has evolved. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM DEC. 13  Pink Floyd’s drummer Nick Mason reflects on 50 years of ‘Wish You Were Here.’ Reported by Ryan Benk and Rob Schmitz | NPR  Schmitz speaks with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason about the band’s epic album “Wish You Were Here” — reissued 50 years after its release. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM DEC. 13  Affable comedy acting legend Dick Van Dyke turns 100 years old. From AP. Comedy icon Dick Van Dyke celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday, hitting the century mark some six decades after he sang and danced with Julie Andrews in “Mary Poppins” and starred in his self-titled sitcom. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE for Dec. 12 report from ABC News.

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Why WSJ amplifies collaborators instead of Palestinian voices, by Ahmed Asmar | Middle East Monitor   Once again, the Wall Street Journal has chosen to offer its pages not to genuine Palestinian voices, but to figures who align explicitly with Israeli agendas in Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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For today, a link to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (COVD ETC., 12-1-25 is HERE or scroll way down.  Scroll up for SYRIA, GAZA, MEDIA, and UKRAINE.) — MCM

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FDA commissioner on public’s growing mistrust in the government’s health advice. Steve Inskeep of NPR asks FDA Commissioner Marty Makary about recent controversies around the COVID and Hepatitis B vaccines, and the lack of trust in the government’s medical advice. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NOTE: Please see access note on any Dec. 12 entry below.

For today, links to five reports: from the Cradle and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for LEBANON 12-12-25 and for today’s GAZA and UKRAINE.) — MCM

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Deadly Israeli strikes hit south Lebanon as Hezbollah rejects disarmament. From the Cradle. At least three people were killed in southern Lebanon today in Israeli drone attacks targeting multiple villages, one day after Hezbollah’s Secretary-General vowed that the resistance would not surrender its arms. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli army says struck three Hezbollah members in South Lebanon. From AFP. The Israeli military said it targeted three members of Hezbollah in South Lebanon today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for later AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.

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FROM DEC. 13  Hezbollah: Syria not a model for Lebanon, weapons will not be taken to fulfill Israel’s demands. From the Cradle. Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem said on Saturday that the resistance is willing to cooperate fully with the Lebanese Armed Forces but emphasized that it is not ready “for any framework that . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 12  Lebanese FM says Beirut warned Israel preparing ‘large-scale assault.’ From the Cradle. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said on Friday that Beirut has received warnings that Israel is preparing a large-scale attack on Lebanon, and that Lebanon is “intensifying” diplomatic contacts in order to prevent war. READ MORE . . .

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NOTE: Please see access note on any Dec. 12 entry below.

For today, links to four reports: from Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and the Associated Press; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 12-13-25 and up or down for today’s LEBANON and GAZA.) — MCM

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Zelensky says will seek U.S. support for freezing front line at Berlin talks. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today he hoped the United States would back the idea of freezing the front line in Ukraine along its current shape at their meeting in Berlin. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for related AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy ditches NATO membership ahead of peace talks. From Reuters. BERLIN / KYIV — Ukraine has relinquished its ambition of joining the NATO military alliance in exchange for Western security guarantees as a compromise to end the war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said ahead of talks with U.S. envoys in Berlin. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from AP, and HERE for same AP report in Spanish and HERE later for others.

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NOTE: Please see access note on any Dec. 12 entry below.

For today, links to four reports and one article of commentary: from Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, the Cradle, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for GAZA 12-12-25, and scroll up for today’s LEBANON and UKRAINE.) — MCM

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Hamas says Israel’s killing of senior commander threatens ceasefire. From Middle East Eye. Israel’s assassination of a senior Hamas commander threatens the viability of the Gaza ceasefire, the chief negotiator of the group said on Sunday, calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to demand Israel comply with the terms of the truce. READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 12  Israel says it has killed a top Hamas commander in Gaza. From AP. JERUSALEM — This after an explosive device detonated and wounded two soldiers in the territory’s south, Israel said on Saturday. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish.  Click HERE for Dec. 13 report from the Cradle.

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FROM DEC. 11  U.S. blocks European diplomats from Gaza coordination center under Israeli pressure: report. From the Cradle. The U.S. has blocked senior European envoys accredited to the Palestinian Authority from entering the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat outside the Gaza border under Israeli pressure, Haaretz reported on Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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Why WSJ amplifies collaborators instead of Palestinian voices, by Ahmed Asmar | Middle East Monitor   Once again, the Wall Street Journal has chosen to offer its pages not to genuine Palestinian voices, but to figures who align explicitly with Israeli agendas in Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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For now, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Anadolu Ajansi, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Scroll down for SYRIA 12-10-25, and for today’s WEST BANK, UKRAINE and MEDIA.) — MCM

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U.S., Syrian soldiers wounded as shots fired at delegation: state media. From AFP. Several Syrian and American soldiers were wounded when shots were fired at a joint military delegation in Palmyra in central Syria today, state media said. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for same AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.   Click HERE for report from Anadolu in French, and HERE for others.

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FROM DEC. 12  Old divides in a new Syria. Reported by Emily Feng | NPR  One year after the ousting of the Assad regime, some of the first Syrian revolutionaries return to their homes and try to start their lives again. But new divisions and old animosities still fester. Click HERE to listen and read.

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TO BE CONTINUED

First, a link to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for WEST BANK 12-9-25, and up or down for today‘s SYRIA, UKRAINE and MEDIA so far.) — MCM

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FROM DEC. 12  Israeli troops are killing unarmed Palestinians in West Bank operations. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi | NPR  A wife in the West Bank city of Nablus grieves her husband who was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers after he appeared to surrender. An Israeli human rights group weighs in. Click HERE to listen and read.

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to five reports: from Agence France-Presse, Tass, the Associated Press and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 12-12-25, and up or down for today’s SYRIA, WEST BANK and MEDIA so far.) — MCM

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Russia says hit Ukraine with hypersonic missiles. From AFP. Russia said today it hit Ukrainian industrial and energy facilities overnight with hypersonic missiles in what it called a retaliation attack for Ukrainian strikes on “civilian targets” in Russia. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for longer AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others. Click HERE for report from Tass.

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FROM DEC. 12  The latest in Ukraine peace talks and war-time elections. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  As Europe and Ukraine offer counterproposals to the White House’s Kremlin-friendly plan to end Russia’s war on Ukraine, Ukraine’s president explores holding wartime elections on ceding territory. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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An international relations expert explains U.S.-Europe political split over Ukraine war. Rob Schmitz of NPR talks with Nathalie Tocci from Johns Hopkins University about what’s fueling political divisions between the U.S. and Europe over how to end the Ukraine war. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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TO BE CONTINUED

First, a link to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for MEDIA 12-11-25, and scroll up for today’s SYRIA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE so far.) — MCM

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FROM DEC. 12  Dick Van Dyke is turning 100! Here’s how he danced into our lives. Reported by Bob Mondello | NPR  Comedian and actor Dick Van Dyke danced across rooftops more than 60 years ago in Mary Poppins. And he danced barefoot across his backyard last year in “All My Love,” a Coldplay video that went viral on his 99th birthday. Click HERE to listen and read.

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TO BE CONTINUED